Rotary envelope-machine



8 Sheets-Sheet 1.

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s. A. GRANT. ROTARY ENVELOPE MACHINE.

Patented Ju1 81, 1888.

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S. A. GRANT.

ROTARY ENVELOPE MAOHINE. No. 387,065. Patented July 31, 18 88.

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' ROTARY ENVELOPE MACHINE.

No. 387,065. Patented July 31, 1888.

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' (No Model.)

S. A. GRANT.

ROTARY ENVELOPE MACHINE.

Patented July 31, 1888.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 5. 1 S. A. GRANT.

ROTARY ENVELOPE MACHINE.

No. 887,065. Patented July 31, 1888.

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(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

S. A. GRANT.

ROTARY ENVELOPE MAGHINE. No. 387,065. Patented July 31, 1888..

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(No Model.) 8 Sheets$heet 7,

S. A. GRANT.

ROTARY ENVELOPE MACHINE.

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(No Model.) A s Sheets-Sheet 8.

8. A. GRANT.

ROTARY ENVELOPE MACHINE. No. 387,065. Patented Jug 31, 1888.

UHF- P WTNESS-ESI Fi /J INVl-LNTUF I N/ PETERS, Photu'mhogqpjgllllllllllll IL 0.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEtcE.

SIDNEY A. GRANT, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROTARY ENVELOPE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387.065, dated July 31,1888.

Application filed May 24, 1886. Serial No. 203,063.

(No model.)

Patented in Canada April 30, 1886, N0. 23,9541; in England September 2,1S8G,No.11.200; in France September 9, 1886, No. 178,423; in GermanySeptember 9, 1586, No. 39,714; in Bel ginm September 13, 1886. No.74,518, and in Austria-Hungary August 8, 1887.

.lliassachnsetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in RotaryEnvelope-lllachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention was patented in Canada, No. 23,951, April 30,1886; inEngland, No. 11,200, September 2, 1886; in France, No. 178,423,September 9, 1886; in Germany, No. 39,714, September 9, 1886; inBelgium, No. 74,518, September 13, 1886, and in Austria-Hungary August8, 1887.

This invention relates to improvements in envelope-machines of therotary class, and is in the nature of an improvement on my patent ofOctober 21, 1884, the object being to provide improved means forretaining piles of envelopeblanks on the blank-table wheel and feedingsaid piles outwardly and for releasing the blanks one after the otherwhen said piles are carried under the pickerarms, for operating thegumming devices, for creasing and carrying the blank to the folding-box,for transferring the blank from the picker box to the folding-box, forfolding the envelope, and for effecting the delivery of the envelopesfrom the drying-chain into the reccivingbox.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sideelevation, partly in section, the side of the frame being removed, of anenvelope-machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation,enlarged from Fig. 1, of the blank-table cylinder and a portion of thepicker-cylinder, together with a portion of" the frame of the machine towhich said cylinders are attached. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view ofone of the four blank-tables shown in Fig. 2, showing the top of a pileof blanks thereon, a portion of the frame in section, and an edge viewof a cam which operates a part of the blankfeeding devices, ashereinafter described. Fig. 4 is a section through line .00 00, Fig.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the frame and of one of thepicker-boxes, together with portions of the mechanism by which it isoperated, as below described. Fig. 6 is a side view of the creaser-shaftand of the rotating crcasers. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of thepicker-box and operating mechanism shown in Fig. 5, but in a reversedposition. Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the foldingboXes, showing anenvelopeblank thereon and one of the end flaps folded, and one of theside-flap-folding wings in an open position. Fig. 9 is a plan view ofthe folding-box and its folding-wing operating devices, showing thethree folding-wings closed against the envelope. Fig. 10 is aperspective view from the outer end of the drying-chain, looking towardthe machine, of asection of the envelope receiving box and a portion ofsaid chain directly over said box, together with the mechanism by whichthe envelopes are drawn out of said chain and made to drop into saidbox. Fig. llis aside elevation of the devices which operate thegumming-roll to swing it between the gum-roll and the pickers. Fig. 12is a perspective view of the gumming-roll and the rock-shaft to which itis attached, together with a portion of the frame on which the latter issecured. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a portion of the picker-cylinderand of two pickers, and of a modified construction of the blanktablecylinder, showing only one table connected therewith, and means forimparting to the latter a vibratory motion, whereby one blank-table ismade to cooperate with and supply blanks for several rotating pickersand crcasers, as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, 2 is the frame of the machine, of suitable form topermit of hanging therein, on transverse shafts 3, the blank-table frame4, the picker-frame 5, and the foldingbox frame 6.

The blank-table frame 4 is of square form in cross-section, and is ofany suitable metallic construction, and is mounted to rotate with itsshaft 3. On each of the four faces of said frame 4- is attached a table,7, by a post, 8, the inner end of which is placed in asocket in the sideof frame 4, and in which it has an endwise motion, for the purposehereinafter set forth. Said blank-table 7 is fixed on the end of thepost 8, and with the latter has a movement toward and from the shaft 3.

Four posts, 9, are fixed on the side of frame 4, parallel with post 8,in the position shown, surrounding the latter, and in a groove in theinner edge of each of said posts9 is set aguidestrip, 10; and behindeach of said strips in the said groove are placed spiral springs, one ofwhich is shown in Fig. 3, to force each strip outward, and theblank-table 7 is located between the posts 9, and the edges of saidstrips 10 are made, by the action of said springs, to bear against theedge of table 7, thereby guiding and retaining it in proper positionduring its said movements toward and from frame 4.

The said post 8, to which table 7 is attached, passes through aspring-clamp, 11, fixed on the side of frame 4, consisting of a metallicplate split on one side, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and having an armthereon, against which a sliding bar, 12, is moved by the eugagement ofthe outer end of the latter with the side of a cam-strip, 13, whereby.the spring-clamp 11 is clamped around post 8, and the latter, duringsaid engagement of sliding bar 12 with said cam-strip, is prevented fromhaving said endwise movement; but when, during the rotation of frame 4,one of the blank-tables in swung under said frame the end of the slidingbar 12 moves off from said cam-strip and releases the spring'clamp,letting the blank-table and its post 8 move by gravitation outward fromframe 4 against the vibrating blank-retainer 14, which determines theproper position of the surface of the pile of blanks to cause the latterto properly cooperate with the pickers, herei nafter described, againstwhich the pile of blanks is brought immediately after having beencarried under the frame 4, as aforesaid. The said blank-retainer 14consists of aslotted metal plate, having rollers 15 attached to itsedge, as shown in Fig 3, to obviate any frictional contact be tween saidplate and the upper blank of the pile,and attached by its rear edge tothe end of the arm 16, which is attached to the end of a shaft, 17, hungin bearings on frame 4 and on one of said posts 9,(see Figs. 3 and 4;)and on one end of said shaft is a crank-arm, 18, having a roller-studthereon, which engages in a cam-groove in a disk-shaped plate, 19, whichis attached to frame 2, and whose center is coincident with the centerof the shaft of frame 4; and as frame 4 rotates, together with theblank-tables thereon, the said crank-arm is vibrated by its engagementwith said camgroove in such a way as to swing the blankretainer 14 overthe pile of blanks as soon as a blank has been separated from thepile,and prevent any blanks from escaping from the latter during therotation of the table to bring it again in contact with the pickers; andas said table is again about to be brought under the latter saidretainer is swung off from the pile, as shown in Fig. 2. When the table7 and the pile of blanks drop more or less by gravitation, as aforesaid,the blanks fall against the retainer 14, and are thereby held in position until they are again brought to the upper side of frame 4.

To each of the posts 9 which surround the blank-table is secured a metalstrip, 20, on which is secured a metal clip, 21, one end of the latterbeing also secured to said post 9; and to said clip is attached a fiatspring-hook, 22, which engages with one edge of the blankpile, as shown,and to a like clip at the opposite edge of said pile is attached a flatspringarm, 23, which projects by the edge ofthe pile, and its upper endis curved outwardly. Said arm 23 has attached to its outer side aspringhook, 24, whose upper end passes through a hole in the springarm23 and projects slightly over the top of the pile, as shown in Fig. 2.

The purpose of the spring-hooks 22 and 24 is to hold the edges of thepile of blanks down against the curved face of table 7, and only to sucha degree as to permit blank after blank to be removed freely therefrom.

The frames 4, 5, and 6, to which are attached, respectively, theblank-tables, the pickers, and the folding-boxes, are suitably gearedtogether,

whereby said frames have such coinciding rotary motions as to bring theblanktables, pickers, and foldingboxesinto conjunction, as and for thepurpose herein set forth.

The frame 5 is of substantially the same form and construction as thesaid frame 4, and to each side thereof is attached a set of pickerdevices, as below described. Four posts, 25, project from each side offrame 5, and between said posts and attached thereto are two sides, 26,of a picker-box, and between the latter is secured a curved face, 27,extending from one end to about the center of the box, both ends of saidbox being open, as shown in Fig. 5. A curved strip, 28, connects theends of the sides 26 at one end of the box, and the outer edges of saidsides and strip 28 constitute, practically, the folding-lines of theback and front flap and one end flap of the envelope, said strip 28being only about the width of the thickness of the curved face 27, asshown in Fig. 7.

As above stated, the edge of the strip 28 constitutes, practically,thefolding-line ofone end flap of the envelope, and to provide a like stripfor the otherend flap the strip29 is secured on a vibrating arm,30,whichis hung between two of said posts 25 at one end of the pickerbox, theend of said arm which carries strip 29 being adapted to swing againstand from the adjoining end of said box, as below described, and whehswung against the end thereof said strip 29 is brought to a positionrelative to the sides 26 substantially like that of the strip 28. Saidarm 30 is provided with astud-arm, 31, which engages with the edge ofacam-strip, 32, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5,) and to the inner sideof arm 30 is connected a retracting-spring, 33, which acts to hold saidstud-arm in engagement with said cam-strip and to swing the free end ofarm 30 against the end of the picker-box. Two pickers, 34, one on eachside of said picker-box, are attached each to a picker-bar, 35, one oneach side of the picker-box and outside of the ICO posts 25,saidpickerbars being provided with roller-studs in the ends thereof, asshown, which engage in a cam-slot, 36, in the inner opposite sides ofthe frame 2, whereby, when frame 5 rotates, said pickers 34 are given areciprocating motion by the side of the pickerbox.

Referring to Fig. 5, the arrow thereon indicates the direction in whichthe picker-box in practice rotates, and upon what is, under suchconditions, the rear side of the pickerbox is pivoted a lever, 37, oneend of which passes through a slotted guide-bar, 38, and engages with acam-strip, 39, secured to a convenient part of the machine, and one endof a spring-plunger is pivoted to said lever between the picizer-box andsaid guide-bar, the spring on which plunger acts to hold the end of thelever 37 against said cam-strip, and the latter, when said lever by therotation of the picker-box devices is brought against it,causes thelever to swing on its pivot and move that portion of it which extends bythe side of the picker-box outward beyond the edge of said side, therebydisengaging from the latter that portion of the envelope-blank which maybe lying thereon when the picker-box swings against the foldingbox andthereby permitting theiower end of the envelope-blank to hang down atthis stage of the operation to insure the proper folding of thefirst-folded end flap on the crease-line.

In Figs. 1 and 2 is shown, in end view, a creaser shaft, 40, and in Fig.6 said shaft and the creasers thereon are shown in side elevation, saidshaft being hung in suitable hearings on frame 2 in such position thatthe edges of the strips 28 and 29 at the ends of the picker-box, engagewith the edges of the creasers 41 on said shaft while the picker devicesare moving over the creasers carrying an envelope-blank, and thereby thefolding lines for the end flaps of the envelope are formed.

The frame 6, on which are supported four sets of foldingboX devices, asshowp in Fig. 1, is of substantially the same form and construction asthe aforesaid frames 5 and 4, and from each side of said frame 6 projectfour posts, 42, to which are attached the below-described flap-foldingmechanism. On the outward ends of said posts is secured a plate orplatform, 43, and on the face of said platform are projections 44, inwhich are the bearings for the shafts of the end-flap-folding wings 45and 46, and side-flap-folding wings 47 and the seal-ilap-folding shaft48, as shown in Fig. 9. The said endiiap-iolding wings 45 and 46 are ofthe usual form, and so, also, is the wing 47; but to the latter isattached adjustably, as shown,aseal-flap-foldingguide,49.whichisadjustable to and from the side of folding-shaft 48, to bring the edgeof said guide, over which thesealiiap is fo1ded,to a proper positionrela tive to said shaft, whereby the foldinglines between said flap andthe body of the envelope are properly adjusted.

In place of the usual seal flap-folding wing, the said folding-shaft 48is provided, whose bearings are eccentric to its longitudinal center,one end of said shaft extending through a suitable bearing on plate 43beyond the end of the latter, and has thereon a pinion, 50, with which arack, 51, (shown in end view in Fig. 9,)

engages, said rack being given an endwise moand in the oppositedirection by a suitable spring, (not shown in the drawings,) whereby therequisite vibratory motion is given to the folding-wings 45 and 46. Alike vibratory motion is given to the folding-wing 47 by a rack, 55,which engages with a pinion, 56, on the end'of the shaft 57, on whichsaid foldingwing is secured. The rack 55 is given an endwise motion bythe engagement of its lower end with a similar cam-groove to 53 in theopposite side of the frame of the machine. Two blank-holding pins, 58,passing through suitable projections on the plate 43, have endwisemotions therein, one end thereof reaching over the shaft of thefolding-wing 46 and the other ends thereof extending beyond the edge ofplate 43. A spiral spring, 59, is placed on each of said pins, between acollar thereon and one of said projections, and serves to move each ofsaid pins in one direction. The outer ends of said pins engage with theadjoining side of the frame of the machine, a portion of which hasthereon a cam projection, 60, Fig. 8. The engagement of the end of saidpins with said cam projection throws the pins forward, as in saidfigure, and when they encounter the plane sides of frame 2, as in Fig.9, they drop back, as there shown.

In Fig. 8 is shown, in dotted lines, between the projections 44 on theplate 43, the outlines of a baseplate located between said pro jections,on which the blank is deposited and against which the latter lies whenits several flaps are folded down by the above described folding-wings.The top side of said plate is about on a plane with the under side ofsaid folding-wings when they occupy the positions over the plate shownin Fig. 9.

To the rear side of the machine is attached the drying chain 61, (showninside elevation in Fig. 1, and partly shown in Fig. 10,) saiddrying-chain being ofthe ordinary weltknown construction,to which motionis given by suitable connection with a moving part of the machine. Saidchain operates in close relation to the rotating foldingboxes abovedescribed, and when one of the latter arrives over the end of the chainthe folding-wing 47 and the side wings swing 0H from the foldedenvelope, releasing it and letting it drop into a chute, 62, Fig. 1, bywhich it is guided into the chain, and by the latter the envelopes soreceived are carried around in the direction indicated by the arrow insaid figure,and are dropped therefrom into a receivingbox, 63, Figs. 1and 10, which is suspended from the driving chain frame, as shown. Toinsure the delivery of the envelopes from the chain into saidreceivingboX, two llOOl(-b2l.IS, 64., one of which is shown in each ofsaid Figs. 1 and 10, are attached to across-bar, 65, under said box,said hoolebars having a vertical sliding motion in asupport, 66, whichis imparted to them by the connection of said cross-bar 65. with aroclcshaft, 67, by means ofan arm, 68, and a connectingrod, (59. (Shownin said figures.) Motion is imparted to said rock-shaft (57 by the shaft70, having thereon a cam, 71, with which the end of a sliding bar, 72,engages, whereby the latter is given a reciprocating endwise motion, andthe opposite end of said sliding bar is connected to an arm, 73, on saidshaft 67.

Attached to the under side of the dryingchain and reaching up andpartially around its rear end are. two guide-rods, 74, the extreme endsover which the envelopes are dropped from the chain being shown in Fig.10, said guiderods supporting the envelopes until they arrive at thatpoint over the recei-ving-' boX 63 where they are engaged by the hookbar64 and drawn downward into said box.

An ordinary freely-moving abutment block, 75, is placed in the deliveryend of said receiving-bOX, as shown in Fig. l0,against which theenvelopes are pushed in the ordinary way as they fall into thereceiving-box, the pusher devices employed in the construction hereindescribed and shown consisting of a cross-bar, 76, extending across therear end of a receiving-box, having thereon a suitable arm (not shown inthe drawings) reaching into the end of said box. A reciprocatinghorizontal motion is given to the cross-bar 76 and its said arm by meansof the rock-shaft 77, Fig.1, with which said crossbaris connected bymeans of the vibrating arm 78 and a connecting-rod, 79, arranged eachside of said receiving-box and connected to each end of said cross-bar.

Motion is imparted to said rock-shaft 77 by the connectingrod 80, oneend of which is connected to the end of arm 81 on said shaft, and itsopposite end engaging with a suitable cam on shaft 70, whereby said rodis given a reciprocating endwise motion.

The parts 82 and 83 and rollers above the latter in Fig. 1 indicatedevices for inking type-blocks for printing, which in otherconstructions of the machine herein described are located under eachfolding-box, and are operated to print the envelopes during the processof gumniing and folding the same, which printing devices do notconstitute any part of the present application.

The devices by which the gum is applied to the pickers 34, Figs. 5 and7, are constructed as follows: A gum-box, 84, is located opposite thecenter of frame 5, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 11,) in which the ordinarygum-rollers, 85 and 86, operate in the usual manner. Rotary motion isgiven to said gum-rollers by a belt, 87, or other suitable connectionwith one of shafts 3 of the machine, the gum-roll 83 having on its shafta pulley, 88, and a geared connection with the gum-roll 86. Agumming-roller, 89, is supported between the gum-roll 86 and the pickerdevices on frame 5 on a rockshaft, 90, and is. rotated by a belt, 91,having a suitable connection with shaft 40. (See Fig. 11.) Motion isimparted to said rock-shaft 90,whereby the gummingroll 89 is vibratedfrom roll 86 against the pickers 34, and vice versa, by the connectionof said shaft with a cam, 92, on shaft 70, by means of the arm 93.attached to shaft 90, and the connecting rod 94:. one end of which isconnected to said arm and the opposite end of which engages with saidcam. An expansible spring, 95, is connected to rod 94, and acts betweenthat and the supportingblock 96 to hold the end of said rod inengagement with said cam.

Referring to Fig. 13, the frame 5 and the picker devices shown thereonare the same as those illustrated in the other figures and heretoforedescribed, and the envelopetable, the posts 9, and retaining springs 23and 24 are substantially the same as those shown in Fig. 2; but themeans for operating said table to move the blanks outwardly aredifferent from those shown in said figures, and are constructed andoperate as follows, and consist of the ratchetpost 97, which in thisconstruction takes the place of the post 8 in Fig. 2, and in so far asitsupports the table 7 performs the function of the latter.

The blank holding devices in Fig. 13 consist only of a single table inconnection with the before-mentioned accessories, mounted on a frame,98, which is supported on a shaft, 3, which in Fig. 2 carries frame 4,said shaft 3 in Fig. 13 rotating freely within frame 98, and havingsecured thereon the circular cam-plate 99, having in its side thecamgrooves 100 and 101. stud, 103, which is fixed in a convenient partof the frame of the machine.

One end of lever 102 is provided with a rollerstud, which engages withsaid can1- groove 101, and the opposite end of said lever is connectedwith the frame 98 by the con necting-rod 10L The object of the modifiedconstruction A vibratory lever, 102, is pivoted on a shown in Fig. 13,relating to the blank-holding mechanism, is to provide means foroperating a single blank-holding table in coujunction with several setsof rotating picker devices such as are shown on frame 5, by giving saidtable an oscillating motion whereby it is brought into conjunction witheach set of said picker devices as thelatter are rotated, and obviate,if desired, the construction of four sets of blank-table devices tooperate with said picker devices. When the cam-plate 99 rotates,thelever 102 is given a vibratory motion, and thereby the envelope-table onframe 98 is vibrated to the right, and upon engage ment with the pickerdevices the latter and the table swing together to the left, and duringsaid movement a blank is taken from the pile by the pickers, andimmediately that the latter swing clear of the table the said table isquickly vibrated again to the right to engage with the succeeding pickerdevices. The ratcheted post 97 has the collar 105 friction ally securedthercon,a stud on the side of said collar entering the groove 100,whereby said collar is given a longitudinally-moiprocating motion onthepost 97. A pawl, 106, pivoted on frame 98, has its free end engagingwith the ratchet-teeth on said post, and when the latter and table 7,bythe upward movement of collar 105, are lifted pawl 106 prevents thebackward movement of said table when said collar slides toward frame 98,and thereby said table and the blanks thereon are moved and held in aproper position for the engagement of the picker devices with thelatter. \Vhen the blank-table is to be supplied with blanks,the pawl 106is swung away from post 97 to depress table 7, the lower end of saidpost meanwhile movingin a socketin frame 98.

The operation of the rotating blank-tables and the devices cooperatingtherewith for holding, retaining, and delivering envelopeblanks one byone to the picker devices having been described above,the operation ofthe gumming devices, pickers and creasers, and folding devices upon theblank is as follows: In the course of the rotation of the picker deviceson frame 5,whereby the latter are brought in succession against theblanks on the tables 7, the pickers 34, before reaching said blanks,swing opposite to the gum-roll 86, and when in that position thegummingroller 89 swings from the latter roll, from which it has takengum, against the pickers 34, gum ming the edges thereof. The pickers andthe face of the pickerbox then swing against the outer blank of thepile, and said pickers become adhesively attached to the latter and pickitofffrom the pile. As the pickers and blanktable approach one another,the pointof the forward picker strikes the curved end of the spring arm23, forcing the latter and the end of spring-hook 24 away from the edgeof the pile of blanks and leaving the forward edge of the top blank freeto be lifted up by the pickers,and the latter then draw said blank fromthe pile. The springarm 23 resumes its position, as shown in Fig. 2, assoon as the point of the picker disengages itself from it. The blankhaving been picked up, as aforesaid, it is next carried against theedges of the ereasers 41, the latter rotating opposite the strips 28 and29 at the ends of the picker-box, thereby creasing or forming thefolding-lines on which the end flaps fold. At this point in theoperation the vibrating arm 30 is against the end of the picker-box, asshown in Fig. 7; but immediately that the latter passes by said creaserssaid arm 30 swings outward away from the end of the picker-box, as shownin Fig. 5, to allow the folding-wing 45, Fig. 8, which is the firstfolding-wing to operate, to swing into the end of the box and fold underone end flap of the blank, thereby seizing the latter and drawing itfrom the picker devices onto the folding-bed, as shown in Fig. 8, wherethe blank is shown in the position it occupies when first attached tosaid devices. While the blank lies in said position with one end folded,the ends of the pins58 encounter the cam-strip 60, and are moved tocarry their inner ends slightly over the blank, as shown, whereby thelatter is held down against the bed-plate, while the folding-wing 46,which next operates, folds over the other end flap, and before thelatter is brought to its place against the body of the envelope the endsof pins 58 have passed beyond said camstrip, and they are by the springs59 drawn back, as shown in Fig. 9, clear of the envelope, therebypermitting wing 47 with the back-flap and folding-shaft48 withtheseal-fiap to operate unobstructedly to properly fold said back andseal flaps. The back-flap-folding wing and its extension next swingover, following the end flap,46, bringing the edge of said extension 49at the folding-line of the seal-flap, holding the latter against theside of the folding-shaft 48, and the latter then rocks over the edge ofsaid extension, folding the seal'iiap over the latter, thus completingthe folding of the envelope. By folding the seal-flap over the edge ofsaid extension, as described, its gummed surface is prevented fromcoming in contact with any part of the envelope under it before it shallhave become dried. Immediately that the folding devices have operated,as aforesaid, their operatingracks, as described, so change theirpositions as to open out thefolding-wings at or before the time thefolded envelope is brought over the end "of the drying-chain, therebyreleasing it and allowing it to drop into the drying-chain, as abovedescribed,and thus at each revolution of the frames 4, 5, and 6 fourenvelopes are gummed, folded, and delivered into said drying-chain, andfrom whence they are delivered into the receivingbox ready for bundling.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a rotary envelopemachine, as ameans for feeding the blank-table outwardly toward the pickers and forholding said table and the blanks thereon against the action of thelatter, the combination, with the blank-table 7, hung on a rotatingframe, substantially as described, of a post, 8, connected by one end tosaid table and having its opposite end entering a socket in the frame 4,a spring-clamp, 11, fixed on the latter and surrounding said post, asliding bar, 12, having an endwise movement on frame 4 against and fromone side of said clamp, and a cam-strip on the frame of the machine,with which the onter end of said sliding bar engages, substantially asset forth.

2. As means for limiting the outward movement from frame 4 of theblanktable and the pile of blanks thereon, a blank-retainer, 14, andmeans, substantially as described, for swinging the latter over and offfrom the pile of blanks while the latter is being rotated opposite thepicker devices, combined and operating substantially as set forth.

, 3. In combination, the blank-table 7, having, together with the blanksthereon, a free outward movement from frame 4, the crank shaft 17,having arm 16 thereon, the blankretainer 14, secured on the latter, anda suitable cam for the engagement therewith of the crank-arm on saidshaft 17, whereby the blankretainer is given a vibratory motion over thepile of blanks during the rotation of said frame, substantially as setforth.

4. In combination, the pickers 34, having a rotary motion with frame 5,opposite and in conjunction with the blank-table 7, a springarm, 23,secured at the edge of the latter and having a curved free end forengagement with said pickers, a spring-hook, 24, having its free endprojecting through said arm, and the spring-hook 22, substantially asset forth.

5. The rotating frame 5, a picker-box located between suitablesupporting-posts projecting from the side of said frame and having apartly-covered face and open ends, and having across one end thereof thecurved strip 28, the vibratory arm 30, having the curved strip 29thereon, and means, substantially as de scribed, for swinging the end ofsaid arm against and from the end of said box while the latter, withframe 4, is rotated, combined and operating substantially as set forth.

6. The combination,wit-h the picker-box, of the pickers 34, one on eachside of the latter, the bars 35, to which said pickers are attached, theframe 2, having a cam-groove therein, with which the ends of said barsengage, whereby the pickers are given a reciprocating motion by thesides of said bar, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination, the picker-box, the pickers 34, and the lever 37,pivoted on the side of said box,and means,substantially as described,for imparting a vibratory motion to said lever while the frame 5 and thepicker-box rotate, substantially asset forth.

8. In combination, the picker-box having the curved strip 28 across oneend, the arm 30,

having the curved strip 29 thereon, and the creaser-shaft 40, havingthereon the creasers 41, to rotate in engagement with said strips 28 and29, substantially as set forth.

9. In combination, the rotating frames 5 and 6, the picker-box, thevibratory arm 30, means, substantially as described, for swingingthelatter away from the end ofsaid box, and the folding-wing 45,swinging into the open end of the latter under the envelope-blankthereon and seizing theblank, substantially as set forth.

10. In combination, the rotating frame 6, the plate 43, supported on thelatter, the endflap-folding wings 45 and 46, the back flapfolding winghaving the adjustable extension 49 thereon,the eccentricseal-flap-folding shaft 48, rolling over the edge of said extensiomandmeans, substantially as described, for imparting vibratory motions tosaid wings and a rocking motion to said shaft, substantially as setforth.

11. In combination, the rotating frame 6, the plate 43, theend-fiap-folding wings 45 and 46, the back-fiap-folding wing having theadjustable extension 49 thereon, the eccentric sealflap-folding shaft48, rolling over the edge ofsaidextension,the pins58,extending over theshaft of one of the end-flap-folding wings, and means, substantially asdescribed, for imparting a reciprocating endwise motion to said pins andvibratory motions to said wings and a rocking motion to said shaft,substantially as set forth.

12. In combination, the back-fiap-folding wing 47, having the adjustableextension 49 thereon, and the eccentric seal-flap-folding shaft 48, andmeans,substantially as described, for imparting a vibratory motion tosaid folding-wings and a rocking motion to said shaft, substantially asset forth.

13. In combination,in an envelope-machine, the rotary frame 4, theblank-table 7, (having convex surface,)secured to the frame, the posts9, attached to the frame and extending opposite the edges ofsaidtable,and the spring-actu ated guide-strip, 10,secured in grooves insaid posts, so as to bear against the edges of the table, substantiallyas described.

SIDNEY A. GRANT.

Witnesses:

G. M. CHAMBERLAIN, WM. H. CHAPIN.

